rganizers of a successful advertising campaign for ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, hit upon a viral idea a few years ago. You may remember it as the “Ice bucket challenge.” It raised almost $100 million in donations, not because people were suddenly sympathetic toward ALS. Rather, because it focused on social media and “me marketing,” and allowed participants to be the star of the show.
People started posting videos of themselves getting buckets of ice dumped on their heads, and—even though they donated money to the cause—it was all about individuals: “Me,” “My video,” “My likes,” “My nominations,” on “My page,” “My donation,” and so on. Today, “Me marketing” works!
Our supercharged, over-indulged, self-absorbed, me-centric culture exists on “My wants,” “My desires,” “My likes,” and “What’s in it for me?” Yet, if I asked for a show of hands of those who like being around narcissistic people, probably none of us would raise our hands.
“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought,” wrote Ellen White in the book Gospel Workers. “The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, . . . is not an easy attainment…The soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in knowledge and true holiness…From the lips of the Saviour of the world were heard these words, ‘I can of mine own self do nothing’”( John 5:30) p. 376.
Even the desire to change comes from God, not from within us, so we can begin by asking God, to “Make me willing to be made willing.” “[F]or it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:13).
Next, Romans 12:2 reminds us, “to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” but, how do we “renew” our minds? We renew our minds by spending time in Christ’s presence, through regular Bible study, prayer, and meditation. By pausing in His presence and listening to Him speak to us through these means, we draw closer to Him.
As we surrender our lives to Christ daily, and contemplate the huge sacrifice Jesus made to come save this poor, miserable, human race, we will realize our true condition, turn away from self, and lose interest in things of this world. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and allow our lives to be broken by His matchless love, we come to be transformed into His likeness and want to share with others what He has done for us.
We’re living in unusual times and unusual events are happening all around us. We see it in the news, we witness it in society, we experience it in our personal lives. Supernatural powers are taking hold of humanity. We’re not battling flesh and blood, Ephesians 6:12 tells us. We’re fighting powers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness. We are at war with Satan and his evil forces who want to steal, kill, and destroy us (John 10:10).
And unlike carnal enemies, these spiritual hosts are gaining access to our homes and attacking our families and our young people at all hours of the day. They’re attacking them through the avenues of their souls—their senses—what they see, hear, taste, touch, and smell; through the internet, TV, music, food, magazines, books, and sensual pleasures.
Yet, as 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (not handguns, missiles, or grenades). “On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
- The Truth – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV). Jesus is the Truth and He can set us free from the curse of sin.
- Christ’s righteousness – Christ’s righteousness covers us and keeps us from stumbling and presents us as faultless before the throne of Grace, (Jude 1:24).
- The Gospel – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, NKJV).
- Faith – “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4, NKJV).
- Knowledge of Salvation – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV).
- God’s Word – God’s word can demolish strongholds, as it did for Jesus when tempted in the desert. “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19b, NKJV).
- Prayer – We know God’s promises often reference the power of prayer. Here is a famous favorite: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV).
In marketing or advertising, very rarely do we hear words like humility, sacrifice, service, or self-denial. Rather, these words are in short supply and are typically reserved for the “feel-good story” at the end of a newscast. The purpose of this story is to make you feel good after hearing of world events, political crises, and racial tensions, and make you want to return the following evening.
What is it about these stories that tug at our hearts?
They are often stories of people who are demonstrating Christ-like qualities—humility, kindness, generosity, or self-denial; the same qualities that you and I can develop by spending time with Jesus. Christ said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all people unto me.”
